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CBT
News
News
| The Most Important Picture I Didn't Take |
by Dr. Terry Seufferlein
I had been invited to teach for a couple of days at the Center for Biblical Training.
The 12 students were in their third, and final, year of the program. The focus of
my teaching was to be on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The study started off
well. We spent the first day discussing the first half of Ephesians, the theological
section. The students were eager to learn, and responded well to the material.
They especially seemed to appreciate Paul’s discussion on how Christ broke down
the walls separating us from one another (2:11-22). The second day we started
off with the second half of Ephesians, where Paul tells his readers how to walk
worthy of the calling we have received. Again, the students were excited about
Paul’s call to unity (4:3-6). The third day we talk about Paul’s “household rules”,
where he instructs wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and
masters.
After we finished this section (6:9), I told the students to grab their Bibles
because we were going for a walk. This caught them by surprise, but they
humored me by gathering up their Bibles and notebooks, and following me out
the door. We walked out of the compound, then turned a corner and followed a
path down behind the compound. About half a mile down the road, we came to
the ruins of an old French house, which was now used for Voodoo worship. I
expected the place to be deserted, since it was the middle of the day, but there
were several people around, including a group of four guys pounding on drums
and playing music.
The scene would have made a great picture, straight out of National Geographic—
old abandoned ruins, Voodoo markings on the walls and trees, men playing
drums—so I asked the men if I could take their picture. They agreed, but
demanded money. The amount wasn’t much (about one American dollar) but I
refused to pay their price, and after some haggling, I put my camera down and
walked away.
I asked the students to tell me about this place. They talked about the worship
of spirits, its history, and its popularity among many people. After some
discussion, I asked them to turn to Ephesians 6, and read verses 10-20, where
Paul talks about spiritual warfare. We talked about the reality of spiritual
warfare, and the importance of being dressed in the armor of God. As we
discussed this passage, several people gathered around us and overheard us
talk about the power of God over the “spiritual forces of evil” (6:12). As we
wrapped up the book of Ephesians, I think the students gained a new
appreciation for the serious nature of the battle, and the eternal consequences at
stake.
As we left, I said, “Do you know why I did not give those men money to take their
picture? It’s not because I don’t have the money, or because I am cheap—it is
because I do not want God’s money to go to support the powers of darkness.”
The students smiled and nodded their approval. As we left, I realized that I may
have missed a great picture, but I think I made a more important point to the
students about the serious nature of spiritual warfare.
I had been invited to teach for a couple of days at the Center for Biblical Training.
The 12 students were in their third, and final, year of the program. The focus of
my teaching was to be on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The study started off
well. We spent the first day discussing the first half of Ephesians, the theological
section. The students were eager to learn, and responded well to the material.
They especially seemed to appreciate Paul’s discussion on how Christ broke down
the walls separating us from one another (2:11-22). The second day we started
off with the second half of Ephesians, where Paul tells his readers how to walk
worthy of the calling we have received. Again, the students were excited about
Paul’s call to unity (4:3-6). The third day we talk about Paul’s “household rules”,
where he instructs wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and
masters.
After we finished this section (6:9), I told the students to grab their Bibles
because we were going for a walk. This caught them by surprise, but they
humored me by gathering up their Bibles and notebooks, and following me out
the door. We walked out of the compound, then turned a corner and followed a
path down behind the compound. About half a mile down the road, we came to
the ruins of an old French house, which was now used for Voodoo worship. I
expected the place to be deserted, since it was the middle of the day, but there
were several people around, including a group of four guys pounding on drums
and playing music.
The scene would have made a great picture, straight out of National Geographic—
old abandoned ruins, Voodoo markings on the walls and trees, men playing
drums—so I asked the men if I could take their picture. They agreed, but
demanded money. The amount wasn’t much (about one American dollar) but I
refused to pay their price, and after some haggling, I put my camera down and
walked away.
I asked the students to tell me about this place. They talked about the worship
of spirits, its history, and its popularity among many people. After some
discussion, I asked them to turn to Ephesians 6, and read verses 10-20, where
Paul talks about spiritual warfare. We talked about the reality of spiritual
warfare, and the importance of being dressed in the armor of God. As we
discussed this passage, several people gathered around us and overheard us
talk about the power of God over the “spiritual forces of evil” (6:12). As we
wrapped up the book of Ephesians, I think the students gained a new
appreciation for the serious nature of the battle, and the eternal consequences at
stake.
As we left, I said, “Do you know why I did not give those men money to take their
picture? It’s not because I don’t have the money, or because I am cheap—it is
because I do not want God’s money to go to support the powers of darkness.”
The students smiled and nodded their approval. As we left, I realized that I may
have missed a great picture, but I think I made a more important point to the
students about the serious nature of spiritual warfare.
